| 2020 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive VP | Landon Donovan | ||
| Manager | Landon Donovan | ||
| USL Championship | Group B: 4th Western Conf.: 10th | ||
| USLC Playoffs | Did not qualify | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Cancelled | ||
| Highest home attendance | 6,100 (March 7 vs.LV) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 6,100 | ||
| Biggest win | LA 0–3SD(Sept. 9) | ||
| Biggest defeat | SD 0–2OC(Aug. 12) PHX 2–0SD(Aug. 15) SD 1–3RNO(Aug. 22) | ||
2021 → | |||
The2020 San Diego Loyal SC season wasthe club's first season of existence and their first season in theUSL Championship (USLC). This article covers the period from the founding of the club to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[1]
| No. | Position | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | DF |  USA | Morgan Hackworth |
| 3 | MF | USA | Elijah Martin |
| 4 | MF |  ENG | Jack Metcalf |
| 5 | DF | USA | Grant Stoneman |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Charlie Adams |
| 7 | MF | USA | Carlos Alvarez |
| 8 | DF | USA | Sal Zizzo |
| 9 | FW |  NGA | Qudus Lawal |
| 11 | FW | USA | Irvin Parra |
| 12 | DF | USA | Eric Avila |
| 14 | MF |  PAN | Yair Jaen |
| 15 | FW |  RSA | Tumi Moshobane |
| 16 | MF |  COD | Beverly Makangila |
| 17 | MF | USA | Collin Martin |
| 18 | DF |  MEX | Edwin Lara |
| 19 | MF |  CMR | Jerome Mbekeli |
| 20 | DF | USA | Joseph Greenspan |
| 21 | FW |  MRI | Ashley Nazira |
| 22 | FW |  GHA | Francis Atuahene(on loan fromFC Dallas) |
| 23 | DF |  MNE | Emrah Klimenta |
| 24 | GK | USA | Jake Fenlason |
| 26 | MF |  SLE | Suleiman Samura |
| 28 | GK | USA | Jon Kempin(on loan fromColumbus Crew) |
| 40 | MF | MEX | Raúl Mendiola |
| — | GK |  JAM | Amal Knight |
| February 2Preseason 1 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–0 | FC Dallas | Chula Vista, California |
| 12:00 PMPDT | Atuahene | Report Report | Stadium:Chula Vista Training Center |
vCosta del Este FC| February 22Preseason 2 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–0 | Costa del Este FC | San Diego, California |
| 8:00 PMPST | Metcalf 44' Parra  60' | Report | Stadium:Torero Stadium |
| February 29Preseason 3 | Reno 1868 FC | 2–4 | San Diego Loyal SC | Reno, Nevada |
| 12:00 PMPST | Hertzog 44', 49' | Report | 7' 24' 30' 75' | Stadium:Greater Nevada Field |
vClub Tijuana| March 28Midseason 1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Cancelled | Club Tijuana | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Stadium:Torero Stadium | |||
| Note: Canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic | ||||
On January 9, 2020, theUSL announced the 2020 season schedule.[3]
| March 71 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPST | Adams 15' Stoneman  90+3' | Report | Burgos 4' Sandoval 29'Torre 55' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 6,100 Referee: Elton Garcia |
| March 112 | Tacoma Defiance | 1–2 | San Diego Loyal SC | Tacoma, Washington |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Mueller 38' Dhillon 56' | Report | Atuahene 31', 85', 89' Stoneman 57'Kempin 90+2' | Stadium:Cheney Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Luis Guardia |
| Note: Played behind closed doors due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[4] | ||||
| July 113 | Real Monarchs | 0–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Sandy, Utah |
| 1:00 PMPDT | R. Sierakowski 57' | Report | Stoneman 17' Avila 40'Zizzo 63'C. Martin 77'Alvarez 90+7' | Stadium:Rio Tinto Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| July 194 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–1 | LA Galaxy II | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | C. Martin 22' E. Martin 66'Makangila 82'Jaen 87' | Report | Hernandez 41' Vázquez 72', 90' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| July 255 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Moshobane 9' Adams 54'Parra 65'Kempin 81' | Report | Sandoval 17' Dally 45+6'Fenwick 84' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Joseph Salinas |
| July 296 | LA Galaxy II | P–P | San Diego Loyal SC | Carson, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Stadium:Dignity Health Sports Park | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to multiple positive covid-19 tests in team organizations.[5] | ||||
| August 17 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–0 | Sacramento Republic FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Spencer 41' Klimenta 66'Avila 85' | Report | Wheeler-Omiunu 55' Hilliard-Arce 71'Skundrich 88'Iwasa 90+3' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Alejandro Mariscal |
| August 88 | Las Vegas Lights FC | P–P | San Diego Loyal SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PMPDT | Stadium:Cashman Field Attendance: 0 | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Las Vegas Lights organization.[6] | ||||
| August 129 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–2 | Orange County SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Alvarez 28' Klimenta 56'Moshobane 76' | Report | Quinn 53', 84' Okoli 65'Alvarado 90+1' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| August 1510 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 6:30 PMPDT | Flemmings 26' King 59' | Report | C. Martin 44' Klimenta 56'Nazira 82' | Stadium:Casino Arizona Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Isaiah Vlad |
| August 2211 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–3 | Reno 1868 FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Stoneman 37' Alvarez 66' | Report | Langsdorf 24' Bone 62'Apodaca 85' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| August 2912 | Orange County SC | 0–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Palmer 58' Crisostomo 90+7' | Report | Stoneman 22' C. Martin 42'Adams 45+6' | Stadium:Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Samantha Martinez |
| September 28 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PMPDT | Billingsley 69' Frischknecht 73'Torre 90+5' | Report | C. Martin 53', 57' Stoneman 72' | Stadium:Cashman Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Jonathan Bilinski |
| September 913 | LA Galaxy II | 0–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Carson, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Alvarado Jr. 48'  65'Cuevas 63'Vera 69' | Report | Berry 1', 38' Rubín 20'Metcalf 61' | Stadium:Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Michael Radchuk |
| Note: Re-schedule of postponed match from July 29. | ||||
| September 1314 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2–0 | Orange County SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Stoneman 9' Berry 22'Guido 41', 64'Tarek Morad 45+2'Alvarez 82'Adams 86'Spencer 90+5' | Report | Kiernan 22' Quinn 72' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| September 1915 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 7:30 PMPDT | Flemmings 41' 89' Barmby 90+2' | Report | Rubin 3', 12', 45+4' Stoneman 32' 90+7'Klimenta 54'Moshobane 63'Metcalf 72'C. Martin 87' | Stadium:Casino Arizona Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Farhad Dadkho |
| September 236 | LA Galaxy II | 1–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Carson, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Neal 22' Cuevas 37'Vázquez 60'Hernandez 69'Ontiveros 72', 90+8'Alvarado Jr. 90+1' | Report | C. Martin 27' Klimenta 38'Rubín 42' (pen.)Adams 58'E. Martin 82' 89'Spencer 90+5' | Stadium:Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 0 Referee: William Hoffman |
| Note: Re-schedule of postponed July 29th match.[7] | ||||
| September 3016 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–3 (Forfeit) | Phoenix Rising FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PMPDT | Berry 2' Rubín 20', 45+7'Stoneman 31'C. Martin 45+8' | Report | Stanton 27', 45' Calistri 28'Moar 45+5'Farrell 45+6' | Stadium:Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Joseph Salinas |
| Note: Match abandoned at start of second half due to Loyal walking off the pitch in protest of an alleged homophobic slur.[8] According to the FIFA disciplinary code, the match was forfeited and Phoenix was awarded a 3–0 victory.[9] | ||||
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix Rising FC | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 46 | 17 | +29 | 35 | 2.19 | Advance toUSL Championship Playoffs |
| 2 | LA Galaxy II | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 26 | 1.63 | |
| 3 | Orange County SC | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 1.50 | |
| 4 | San Diego Loyal SC | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 23 | 1.44 | |
| 5 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 11 | 0.69 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno 1868 FC | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 21 | +22 | 36 | 2.25 | Conference Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Phoenix Rising FC | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 46 | 17 | +29 | 35 | 2.19 | |
| 3 | San Antonio FC | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 14 | +16 | 33 | 2.06 | |
| 4 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 32 | 2.00 | |
| 5 | Sacramento Republic | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 30 | 1.88 | |
| 6 | New Mexico United | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 27 | 1.80 | |
| 7 | FC Tulsa | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 25 | 1.67 | |
| 8 | LA Galaxy II | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 26 | 1.63 | |
| 9 | Orange County SC | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 1.50 | |
| 10 | San Diego Loyal SC | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 23 | 1.44 | |
| 11 | Austin Bold FC | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 22 | 1.38 | |
| 12 | Tacoma Defiance | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 14 | 0.88 | |
| 13 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 13 | 0.81 | |
| 14 | Real Monarchs | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 11 | 0.69 | |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 16 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 11 | 0.69 | |
| 16 | Rio Grande Valley Toros | 14 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 9 | 0.64 | |
| 17 | OKC Energy FC | 16 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 29 | −17 | 10 | 0.63 | |
| 18 | Portland Timbers 2 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 20 | 50 | −30 | 9 | 0.56 |
As a USL Championship club, San Diego was set to enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[10] The second round draw had the Loyal slated to play an away match versusLos Angeles Force scheduled for April 7.[11] Before the match could occur, however, U.S. Soccer suspended the competition on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[12] before cancelling the competition altogether on August 17.[13]
vSan Diego Loyal SC| April 72nd round | Los Angeles Force | Cancelled | San Diego Loyal SC | Los Angeles, California |
| PDT | Stadium:Jesse Owens Stadium (Cal State LA) | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic[12] | ||||
